From a cash-flow standpoint, the middle of winter is not the best time to buy a septic service business. But there’s an exception to every rule, and such is the case with Marko Septic – thanks to a Mi-T-M 3004 hot-water jetter.

Owner Matt Herink bought the business in January 2014, and the hot-water jetter was one of several drain cleaning machines that came with the purchase of Marko Septic in Ellsworth Roberts, Wisconsin. Herink wasn’t sure what the winter would bring business-wise, but as luck would have it, it was one of the coldest winters in recent memory. That created a flood of business thawing frozen drainlines.

“When I bought the business, the Mi-T-M hot-water jetter was my most valuable piece of equipment because it kept me busy right after the acquisition,” Herink says, noting that he primarily uses the machine to clean grease traps. “It’s not a huge revenue generator overall, since only about 5 percent of our business comes from cleaning grease traps. But it’s still valuable — it’s like having a good reliever that’s always ready in the bullpen.”

Herink says the hot-water option is a big productivity booster. He can unclog frozen lines with cold water, but hot water does the job much faster. The same is true for cleaning grease traps; the hot water is more effective, melting the grease and speeding up jobs.

The cart-mounted unit features a General triplex pump that generates pressure of 3,500 psi and flow of 4 gpm; a top-fired heat exchanger; 200 feet of 1/4-inch-diameter hose; an enclosed, fan-cooled electric motor that powers the diesel-fired burner; and a 13 hp gasoline Honda engine that powers the pump and “starts like a champ every time,” Herink says. In addition, the unit includes a forged-brass manifold and an external bypass system that allows more water into the system, protecting the unit from excessive heat buildup.

A full profile on Marko Septic is featured in the August issue of Pumper.